Human immunodeficiency virus treatment adherence and outcomes in pregnant women among key populations in Nigeria

Objectives: Over the past two decades, numerous global health programs and interventions have been implemented to prevent mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study aims to examine the association between antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence-related factors and viral load suppression among pregnant women in key populations (KPs). Materials and Methods: This study used a retrospective quantitative research design to assess the association between ART adherence-related factors and viral load suppression among pregnant female sex workers (FSW) and people who inject drugs (PWID). The participants are enrolled in HIV treatment programs at Heartland Alliance Limited by Guarantee (LTD/GTE) One Stop Shops across eight selected states in Nigeria. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square test were used to summarize the demographic and clinical characteristics of the study participants. Results: The socio-demographic of the study shows that among the participants ( n = 59), 88.1% were FSW, and 11.9% were PWID. The majority resided in Akwa Ibom (47.5%) and Cross River (45.8%), with most aged 26–33 years (42.4%). Nearly all (93.2%) received community-based treatment, and 100% were on first-line ART regimens. Most participants had ARV refill intervals of 5–6 months (88.1%) and treatment durations of 1–5 years (79.7%). The study found that 96.6% of participants achieved viral load suppression, with suppression rates significantly associated with treatment adherence (χ 2 = 59.000, p < 0.001), refill intervals (χ 2 = 29.052, p < 0.001), and state of residence (χ 2 = 29.596, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The findings reveal that high adherence rates are strongly associated with viral suppression, which is essential for reducing the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission and improving overall maternal health.